Issues

Campaign themes

2014

Health Care: "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Obama Care to the rest of us, MUST be repealed. The bill is not about healthcare; it’s about the biggest power grab by the US government in our history. It is wrought with new taxes and heavy regulations, the shadow of which has stifled business growth. It is the biggest single item blocking economic recovery."

Deficit and Debt: "Our national debt is nearly eighteen trillion dollars and growing by billions daily. Obama’s reckless spending exceeds anything the world has ever seen before. Here are some of the things we must do to get our country on solid ground again."

Taxes: "Taxes are the Power Pawn of Politics. Numerous studies have shown that, since the Korean War, when taxes are high, lessening employment thus the tax base, and when taxes are low, increasing employment thus the tax base, revenue of the government from taxes runs about 19% of GNP."

Over-Regulation: "There are a few regulations placed on Wall Street that were put in place to make sure what’s happened will not happen again. The vast majority of Obama’s regulations, however, are micromanaging business and the economy and, quite frankly, are not the solution but part of the problem. They must be repealed."

Immigration: "A secure border is needed, even if it means putting troops on the border until a beefed-up Border patrol is in place. What a great place to employ troops returning home and mustering out of the military. An unsecure border is a major security threat. It is an infected wound in which fester crime, drugs, death, threat and illegal occupation of our country and jobs. Once the border is secure, we can address those who are already here illegally. Not before."

2012

Excerpt: "California's agriculture industry suffers severely from excess regulation at all levels of government. For example, water is absolutely essential to grow anything, yet excessive environmental legislation combined with an activist judiciary and a non-native smelt are turning thousands upon thousands of acres of farmland in the Central Valley into a dust bowl."

Budget/Spending

Excerpt: "Running a household, running a business or how much you have for lunch – we have all had to deal with a budget. The issue is always, “How much is there to spend?” Spending more than they have, Congress is out of control. I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution and the Mack-Penny plan, authored by Congressman Connie Mack of Florida."

Defense & National Security

Excerpt: "In the preamble to the Constitution, a primary reason for establishing our government is “for the common defense” of the country. It is incumbent upon government to keep our military as strong and as ready as possible."

Education

Excerpt: "The deterioration of the quality of education in the United States is a long-term economic problem. UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics shows the U.S. leading the world spending 5.4% of GDP on education. Yet, in 2011, the SAT scores are the worst in history. Why? I would place the majority of the blame at the feet of teacher’s unions."

Energy

Excerpt: "We need to develop all energy sources, oil, natural gas, coal, biofuels, wind, nuclear, and hydro. The marketplace will decide which is the most effective but the exploration of all will create jobs, lower energy prices, stimulate growth, increase government revenues, strengthen the dollar and, ultimately, make our nation more secure."

According to the Washington Post, the 24th was a battleground district in 2012. District 23 incumbent Lois Capps, displaced into the 24th with redistricting, found herself running in a district that is nearly evenly split Democratic and Republican. She formerly had a Democratic advantage in the double-digits.[8]